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New 12.9-inch iPad Pro Not Compatible With Older Magic Keyboard

TiggrToo said:
Again, that's a supposition, nothing more, nothing less.

Truth is neither of us know and neither of us can have our positions verified.

That said, I've worked on projects where we've had to make major changes mid way through, and 2020 was not a normal year fir anyone - Apple included.

It is entirely possible that Apple's requirements for a screen could not be met by Samsung (assuming they supplied it) in volume so they had to accept the change.

You absolutely cannot deny that this is a possibility any more than I can say it's a fact.

Difference is, I'm trying to work out just what the reasoning is otherwise given that the new MK is backwards compatible and the 11" is unaffected.

Most people however seem to be content to just whine, moan and complain because that's apparently easier.
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Well maybe I am just jaded when it comes to corporation. Apple expects to produce 5 millions of the iPad Pro 12.9 mini-LED this year. If these are sold and only 10% of those, or about 500K people, who could not use the old keyboard, then it's an easy $175 millions extra revenue. Follow the money.
 
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jk1221 said:
But we're environmentally friendly. Meanwhile creates e-waste with a 1 year old $300+ product that can't be re-used.

If this was a cheap well under $100 basic form-fitting case, ok sucks but ok. The dimensions are slightly different. But this thing was already WAY overpriced.

And they could have left a bit extra space (talking 1-2mm) in the thickness when closing up. There was nothing preventing that like a traditional case that wraps around.

This is intentional obsolescence. Regardless what Apple fanboy sites want to say claiming "There’s no conspiracy to make you buy a new keyboard." Rigghhhhtttt
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Apple is one of the most tone-deaf hypocritical corporations in the world, and certainly the richest, yet the blind sheep continue wearing the wool blindfolds.
 
mi7chy said:
Instead of increasing the price of M1 iPad Pro, Apple made up for it by forcing the purchase of a new Magic Keyboard which isn't a big loss since it's heavy, causes fingers to bump up against bottom of tablet when using upper row of keys and pricey. Perfect opportunity for good affordable Surface-like third party keyboard options to step in.
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But they did increase the price of the 12.9-in. iPad Pro.

Logitech will be releasing keyboards for the iPad Pro that use the Smart Connector. It doesn't look horrible and does have some advantages. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/ipad-keyboards/combo-touch-ipad.920-010095.html

The keyboards Logitech has for other iPads are well-reviewed.
 
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verdi1987 said:
But they did increase the price of the 12.9-in. iPad Pro.

Logitech will be releasing keyboards for the iPad Pro that use the Smart Connector. It doesn't look horrible and does have some advantages. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/ipad-keyboards/combo-touch-ipad.920-010095.html

The keyboards Logitech has for other iPads are well-reviewed.
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Oh, I fell for their bait and switch watching the announcement where they said they kept the price the same but it's just for the iPad Pro 11" 128GB WIFI and not the rest of the models. Pretty scummy then they double-dip on the Magic Keyboard.
 
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verdi1987 said:
But they did increase the price of the 12.9-in. iPad Pro.

Logitech will be releasing keyboards for the iPad Pro that use the Smart Connector. It doesn't look horrible and does have some advantages. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/ipad-keyboards/combo-touch-ipad.920-010095.html

The keyboards Logitech has for other iPads are well-reviewed.
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Usually their keyboards are heavier, as are others and the iPad just comes right off the Magic Keyboard, which is a big advantage making it lighter.
 
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I posted in another new thread about this , shameful practices all i've got to say. The last year's magic keyboard has the same cheap-deteriorating textile that creates wrinkles after some carrying/picking up/putting it down just as the folio does so nevermind the outrageous price and cheap materials now they force us to buy a new one for 0.5 mm difference ?

No comment.
 
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mrochester said:
Consumerism is people needlessly buying/upgrading things they don’t need.
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I'm still sitting on my Gen 2 iPad Pro, and still have no intention on upgrading until I see something that matches the durability of that unit. I'm a bit of a super user and it works for everything I need it for, including Photoshop.

It is kind of strange to upgrade just for the sake of upgrading -- and expensive. I'm in a subgroup, too, of those who use my iPad as a tablet, and save my Macbook Pro for keyboard and mouse work. The keyboard for the tablet idea just doesn't gel for me, especially the oversized monstrosity that is the Magic Keyboard. I'm still amazed that it's designed for the iPad, but yet won't fold over backward so that one can use the tablet. Any protection it might offer is lost as soon as you detach it to use the tablet functionality.

That said, for a device that was just released late last year, it seems a little bit of a money grab to not extend the functionality for this gen.
 
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off3nc3 said:
I posted in another new thread about this , shameful practices all i've got to say. The last year's magic keyboard has the same cheap-deteriorating textile that creates wrinkles after some carrying/picking up/putting it down just as the folio does so nevermind the outrageous price and cheap materials now they force us to buy a new one for 0.5 mm difference ?

No comment.
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Your “no comment” is coming through, loud and clear.
 
All of this reporting seems so incredibly reactionary and irresponsible, not just here but other outlets. All reports, from here, to The Verge, to every other outlet cites back to the same iGeneration article. Further still, several readers have taken it upon themselves to prove that the existing Magic Keyboards will close just fine with the added thickness. Apple's own website confirms the current generation Magic Keyboard on sale (whether this is the same one as before or a new version) will work with the 2018, 2020, and 2021 12.9 inch models which means the smart connector is in the same place and the protocols are all the same. The end result? The keyboards should work just fine and fold just fine, even if it's not officially supported by Apple. Let's all take a deep breath and wait for someone to actually try it once they get their hands on one before screaming bloody murder.
 
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bradman83 said:
All of this reporting seems so incredibly reactionary and irresponsible, not just here but other outlets. All reports, from here, to The Verge, to every other outlet cites back to the same iGeneration article. Further still, several readers have taken it upon themselves to prove that the existing Magic Keyboards will close just fine with the added thickness. Apple's own website confirms the current generation Magic Keyboard on sale (whether this is the same one as before or a new version) will work with the 2018, 2020, and 2021 12.9 inch models which means the smart connector is in the same place and the protocols are all the same. The end result? The keyboards should work just fine and fold just fine, even if it's not officially supported by Apple. Let's all take a deep breath and wait for someone to actually try it once they get their hands on one before screaming bloody murder.
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Then why a new model that has no new features?
 
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This thread has more Apple employees than their ApplePark campus.

people get told to take it up their a** and spend more $$ for the SAME thing they have now if they want to upgrade the iPad, no lube and so many are defending it.
We love the environment... the green one.
What a world lmao.
 
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Grohowiak said:
This thread has more Apple employees than their ApplePark campus.

people get told to take it up their a** and spend more $$ for the SAME thing they have now if they want to upgrade the iPad, no lube and so many are defending it.
What a world lmao.
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The thread is 50% people saying “that sucks!” And 50% people saying “that makes no sense. Let’s wait and test with an actual device.” What are you talking about?
 
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bradman83 said:
All of this reporting seems so incredibly reactionary and irresponsible, not just here but other outlets. All reports, from here, to The Verge, to every other outlet cites back to the same iGeneration article. Further still, several readers have taken it upon themselves to prove that the existing Magic Keyboards will close just fine with the added thickness. Apple's own website confirms the current generation Magic Keyboard on sale (whether this is the same one as before or a new version) will work with the 2018, 2020, and 2021 12.9 inch models which means the smart connector is in the same place and the protocols are all the same. The end result? The keyboards should work just fine and fold just fine, even if it's not officially supported by Apple. Let's all take a deep breath and wait for someone to actually try it once they get their hands on one before screaming bloody murder.
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That’s not the case. Both Apple Insider and The Verge claim they have other sources confirming this. If Apple wanted to they could put to rest any confusion by going on record as to whether the current keyboard is compatible or not.
 
So the answers confirmed on plans is : more magnet on the new 12.9 but same place for more security ( because of the weight). So the 2020 MKB will work.
For the 11 same magnet same place.
 
Any one up for a rubber band fix for the 2020 MK ;)

"Hey, y'all, prepare yourself for the rubberband man
You've never heard a sound
Like the rubberband man
You're bound to lose control
When the rubberband starts to jam"

Sorry, I'm really disappointed about not being able to use my 2020 MK with the 2021 iPad. I guess that is the price of progress.
 
KevinN206 said:
I find it hard to believe that Apple does not know the thickness of a mini-LED panel with their deep hands in R&D and supply chain. So it's either a planned obsolescence or they simply missed it. I still don't know how they can miss it for a keyboard that's only one year old. There's no way that Apple didn't know about the thickness of the mini-LED panel while developing the first gen Magic Keyboard.
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It's more likely that the display's supporting hardware is what made the iPad thicker rather than just knowing the thickness of the panel.
 
samadulator said:
This is wrong. Apple has designed their iPad Pro "folio" style accessories to fit multiple generations of iPad, but they break the MOST expensive iPad accessory they sell after only ONE generation? The Right Thing to Do™ is to offer GOOD trade-ins on Magic Keyboard for those who are purchasing a new iPad Pro, so they can get the one that fits the model.

If I get an iPad Pro 2021 (I'm seriously doubting it now), I'm going to get a Smart Folio and then use an external wireless keyboard. Not tidy, but at least it'll last more than a generation.

Come on, Apple! You are better than this!
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Trade-in? You think secondary markets for this exist?
 
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notabadname said:
I somehow missed in the 1st Gen Magic Keyboard specs the promise that it would “fit any or all future iPad models”.
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Don’t you think it’s poor design that the keyboard had to be redesigned only one year after it was released? Nothing else changed besides making it compatible with a slightly thicker/heavier iPad. I’ll bet if you held up the 2020 and 2021 keyboards you wouldn’t be able to tell which is which.
 
darngooddesign said:
Unless you think the keyboard stopped working on the 2020 iPad, its not eWaste. Just sell it and someone with a 2020 will use it.

I bet it works with the new one, but it may not close perfectly.
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Then it becomes dime for dollar for the old one, and you have to pay for the new full price one.
 
KevinN206 said:
Well maybe I am just jaded when it comes to corporation. Apple expects to produce 5 millions of the iPad Pro 12.9 mini-LED this year. If these are sold and only 10% of those, or about 500K people, who could not use the old keyboard, then it's an easy $175 millions extra revenue. Follow the money.
Click to expand...
Most people hold on to their iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard for longer than less than a year.
 
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